Rehabilitation of the Dushanbe–Chanak road with the construction of the Shahristan tunnel
Location: Dushanbe - Chanak, Tajikistan
Sector: Transportation
Source of funding: USD 287.9 mln - Exim Bank of China, USD 14.8 mln - Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
Total cost: USD 304.5 mln
Implementer (contractor/ operator): Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport and Communication, China Road and Bridge Corporation
Start (of construction): 2006
Planned completion: 2013
INVESTORS SUMMARY
The Export-Import Bank of China: The Export-Import Bank of China is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. It is a bank directly under the leadership of the State Council and dedicated to supporting China’s foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. With the Chinese government’s credit support, the Bank plays a crucial role in promoting steady economic growth and structural adjustment, supporting foreign trade, and implementing the “going global” strategy. The Bank has been involved in various projects in Tajikistan, and in 2016 Tajikistan’s debt to the institution already amounted to 1 billion USD.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Total length is 335,9 km. Important for road connectivity inside Tajikistan. In 2010, Tajikistan opened the Dushanbe–Chanak highway, which connects Tajikistan’s capital to Uzbekistan. This 345-km highway was upgraded by Chinese companies thanks to a 296 mln USD loan from Beijing. However, what was regarded as an investment in Tajikistan’s poor infrastructure seemed to become a source of income for the ruling elites.
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